The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Iran possesses chemical weapons and warned that the regime of the ayatollahs continues to pose a serious threat to Israel, the United States, and international stability, despite the heavy blow it received during the recent Israeli military offensive.
In an interview with the American channel Newsmax, Netanyahu maintained that Tehran has chemical weaponry, a capability he described as "another threat" emanating from the Islamic Republic.
Although there were no reports of this type of weapon being used during the recent war between Israel, the United States, and Iran, the Israeli leader assured that its existence constitutes an additional cause for concern for the international community.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump
Netanyahu also asserted that Operation Mighty Lion significantly delayed the Iranian nuclear program. He explained that Israel destroyed a significant part of the infrastructure intended for the development of nuclear weapons, including centrifuges, factories, and facilities linked to uranium enrichment, in addition to eliminating twenty of the main Iranian nuclear scientists.
"We have considerably delayed their capacity," he stated. However, he warned that one should not fall into complacency. He compared the Iranian threat to a cancerous tumor: although it has been largely removed, it could grow back if pressure on the regime is not maintained.
The Prime Minister also defended President Donald Trump's decision to engage in the military campaign against Iran. He explained that the Iranian regime not only threatens Israel but also the United States, due to its development of long-range ballistic missiles and its nuclear ambitions.
"If a regime that proclaims 'Death to America' obtains nuclear weapons and missiles capable of reaching U.S. territory, all Americans would be in danger", he stated.
Netanyahu also dedicated part of the interview to describe the internal situation in Iran. He asserted that the vast majority of the population rejects the Islamic regime and that millions of Iranians live under a dictatorship that rules through repression. According to his statements, the authorities have killed or injured tens of thousands of people who demanded freedom.
Finally, he stated that Israeli and American attacks have seriously weakened the Revolutionary Guard and damaged important sources of funding for the regime. In his opinion, the combination of this economic deterioration, popular discontent, and the loss of military capabilities could accelerate, over time, a political change in Iran.
